Microsoft has introduced a new, optional trial as part of the Windows download website. The Windows Genuine Advantage program asks visitors to the site whether it is okay for Microsoft to check whether they are running a legitimate copy of the operating system. There won't be any consequences to the check being done other than the user being urged to return to the PC vendor to obtain a good copy of the OS.

The initiative is apparently not targeted at pirates who deliberately run illegal copies, but at individuals who believe they are running legitimate copies of Windows but aren't. The trial is set to last until 20,000 users have tried it, a figure Microsoft believes will take between 6 weeks and three months to reach. The results of the trial will then be used to decide if this should become a mandatory check or tested further.

The Windows Genuine Advantage trial forms part of Microsoft's anti-piracy campaign, consisting of “education, enforcement and engineering.” The aim of the initiative is to make people more inclined to always choose legitimate copies of software. No updates are currently being blocked, especially Service Pack 2, which is available to everyone.

MATTHEW'S OPINION
Microsoft does block some people who try to use the well known Windows codes that have been out there pretty much since WinXP was released. This new initiative will worry people who know they are using pirate copies, not because the trial is going on but because it could become mandatory and then no more updates will be available. Then those people either have to do without the updates (no great problem), buy a legal copy of the software, or switch to Linux. The lack of updates only becomes a problem if software vendors start requiring them for programs to run, which doesn't happen very often.

Microsoft's idea of trying to figure out how to make legitimate copies more appealing made me laugh. The simple answer to that is to reduce the costs–Windows XP is wildly overpriced for both Home and Professional copies. With Linux forging a growing market for itself and remaining free, Microsoft really needs to wake up and look at its selling techniques and pricing.

Whether this trial becomes a mandatory check or not, people aren't going to be affected that much. What Microsoft does with Longhorn may be different, though. Checks from the day of release with activation codes logged may stop most of the piracy. This probably isn't a trial to help stop XP piracy, but more of a test to see if this license checking will be viable for Longhorn.

USER COMMENTS 72 comment(s)

Well(10:12am EST Mon Sep 20 2004)I think it makes business sense, and if you use an algorithm/keygen, I wonder how it knows if it is legit or not?

I think this may only work for well known serials. – by h00kw0rm

Hey!(10:30am EST Mon Sep 20 2004)“Microsoft really needs to wake up and look at its selling techniques and pricing.”

They will do that when they can control the piracy. Once that is done, costs should begin to drop, making Windows even more afforable. – by Don't_Code_For_Free

There are a LOT(10:31am EST Mon Sep 20 2004)of illegal copies out there. Primarily, because the software is ridiculously expensive. If I could buy the OS for $50, instead of $200 I would buy it.

Same thing for OfficeXP. $300+ a copy for the 'industry standard' is simply too high.

People do not necessarily steal because they want something for nothing some do it because the cost of being legal is prohibitive.

If Doom3 cost $300, you can bet that there would be a tremendous number of Doom3 copies that were traded illegally. – by Hodar

Microsoft considers that(10:38am EST Mon Sep 20 2004)Only 30% of its products in use have been paid for.measure this against the fact that 78.3% of statistics quoted being made up on the spot and 75.2% of women who think I am lovely and you can see why they might want to find those who have lifted their product.Remember if no one stole it two things might happed.1) it would become cheeper.2) Bill might get richer. – by apom

Why Not(10:42am EST Mon Sep 20 2004)I worked for a company in El Monte, CA who sells a few hundred PCs a month and about 95% of those use bogus copies of XP Home. They sell them to the unknowing Hispanic community who wouldn’t know what a legit license tag looks like. We needed to use glue to put these things on. I called MS and they just sent them a letter. So MS really doesnt really do anything about nonlegit copies. They just like the info for stat reasons it looks like. If they just spent as much time and money doing something about it instead writing letters, a lot would change. Damb, we even sold them with used and refirb parts to save $. I was soon fired thereafter. – by WinVt

Thieves!!!(10:47am EST Mon Sep 20 2004)I like that, blame microsoft for your moral corruptness!!! The pot calling the kettle black, ever heard that. Or two wrongs don't make a right!! I'm not saying I'm perfect, but microsoft itself has no bearing on the fact I've got a pirated copy of “word”, I've just made a conscious decision not to pay for it. I'd hope you don't blame microsoft for your cigarette habit or your mcdonalds addiction, or maybe you do. My suggestion is “DO SOMETHING ELSE BESIDES SIT IN FRONT OF YOUR COMPUTER” – by jtm from IL.

Why Not(10:49am EST Mon Sep 20 2004)I worked for a company in El Monte, CA who sells a few hundred PCs a month and about 95% of those use bogus copies of XP Home. They sell them to the unknowing Hispanic community who wouldn’t know what a legit license tag looks like. We needed to use glue to put these things on. I called MS and they just sent them a letter. So MS really doesnt really do anything about nonlegit copies. They just like the info for stat reasons it looks like. If they just spent as much time and money doing something about it instead writing letters, a lot would change. Damb, we even sold them with used and refirb parts to save $. I was soon fired thereafter. – by WinVt

ehh(10:59am EST Mon Sep 20 2004)$300 for a copy of Office….I make less than that in a single paycheck now, then theres the car and insurance payments (f*** bad credit.seriously)..I try to buy what I can afford…but most of 'it' is beyond my limit of spending..and yes im gonna hear 'get a better job'..well…I'm a college student. lol!! Nothing good out there for me yet! jtm, you seem to have money coming out of that righteus ass of yours, lend me some!! – by Gir

RE: Don't_Code_For_Free(11:03am EST Mon Sep 20 2004)How much money does piracy cost for MS right now? Would that be calculated against the current retail price or against what it would be (should be?) if there was no piracy? I understand your sentiment, but I don't agree with companies like MS saying piracy costs them X amount of money when a large part of the piracy problem is caused by their own price gouging of customers. (This argument applies to the music industry, too.)

Microsoft will do whatever they feel will best protect their interests, which revolve around making money. (They are a business, after all.) Given past perfomance, I think their solution will be heavy-handed and end up hurting the 'little guys' (like WinVt's old customers) rather than the companies that make piracy a part of their business.

I forsee pirate sites setting up their own “Windows Update” sites with checking disabled to get around this, anyhow. – by JRink

Doom3(11:07am EST Mon Sep 20 2004)“If Doom3 cost $300, you can bet that there would be a tremendous number of Doom3 copies that were traded illegally. – by Hodar”

Yeah, but how long do you use Doom 3 for? About 20/30 hours of gameplay then that's it?

You use your operating system all the time.

That said, I still agree with the general sentiment that it's too expensive and rightly, if it were $50 rather than $300 or whatever I'd buy it.– by brindy

Cry me a river(11:15am EST Mon Sep 20 2004)If it costs so much to run windows maybe you should run linux and quit complaining. Microsoft had done great a business with marketing and sales. You are still left with the option to buy or not to buy. Or perhaps you are faced with a moral delima. People will continue to steal windows complain and threaten with linux but do nothing. You still have a choice. You can run a free os or your can pay for another. It kills me that the same people who will talk linux up are the same who are running illegal copies of windows. Perhaps it is this lack of moral fiber in our makup that threatens our very existance. Better yet if you dont want to pay for XP pro save the 300 and write your own os instead of sitting on your couch solving the problems of the world. – by Just a Bill

Too funny(11:18am EST Mon Sep 20 2004)Whatever MS comes up with in the way of copy protection, it *WILL* be cracked. MS is wasting their time on trying to copy protect their software, and they know it.The only way to reduce piracy is to make the prices reasonable, as most everyone already agrees. – by BigDaddee

Anything but the EULA(11:31am EST Mon Sep 20 2004)Large corporations don't pay Microsoft tax because they know that the EULA is illegal. Microsoft is scared to death that someone will put the ELUA in front of a Judge and it be found illegal. $200,000,000,000 in damage are caused every year by Microsoft products. Imagine if a court found the EULA illegal and Microsoft had to pay damages for the last 10 years. Of course, Microsoft just won't listen to the court ruling, but there is NO REASON to pay Microsoft tax. – by MS hurts everyone

RE: JRink(11:35am EST Mon Sep 20 2004)Good point however, we're always seeing advertisements on TV about how the cost of stealing garments at clothier stores are always passed on to the consumer. This is just a different type of product, nevertheless I suspect the coast is being passed on as well. – by Don't_Code_For_Free

Pricing(11:41am EST Mon Sep 20 2004)MS needs to reconsider it's pricing or atleast lower prices after a period of time. If the OS was only $100 – $150 for the pro I would buy it with as well but 300 – 400 is a joke.

HEY Microsoft how do you justify that markup for product that cost you $5 – $10 to produce? – by Roach_D

Re: Roach_D(11:46am EST Mon Sep 20 2004)Erm I only paid £120 two years back for XP Pro even then it was only about $200 so where is the 300-400 coming from? – by underscore

Activation sucks(11:50am EST Mon Sep 20 2004)I've changed my hardware so many times, I swear they don't belive me when I reactivate. Its a real pain in the arse having to phone up everytime because the web activation is no longer available to me. – by anqe

you know(11:52am EST Mon Sep 20 2004)microsoft has their software packaged in prisons… where they pay less then 2$/hr for labor. – by Fuzz

RE anqe(11:58am EST Mon Sep 20 2004)As i said fuckit edit your registy.shut off messenger automatic updates, firewall,(install a third party Fire wall) remote registry and any thing else that is a security hole..screwem you bought the OS. its yours! do with it as you wish(may only apply to Canadian Law)– by FreeKE

Annoying update of Microsoft office.(12:01pm EST Mon Sep 20 2004)Has anyone updated Microsoft Office from the JPEG flaw?You run Microsoft Office Update. During installation of the patch, you have to hunt up and down for legitimate Microsoft Office CD. Put in the CD, Microsoft rejects the Office because it is the wrong Office CD. Hunt up and down for the other legitimate Microsoft Office CD. Put in the CD. You can finally install the patch for Office. What a pain for a legitimate Office User. – by LegitimateOfficeUser

20,000 hits in 6 weeks???(12:09pm EST Mon Sep 20 2004)I think if they get that many in 6 months they will be lucky. No one that has a stolen copy will be going there and people that are unsure will want to continue to use it that way and if caught they can claim that “this is the way the computer came when I bought it”.

– by Rax

Lock Down!(12:11pm EST Mon Sep 20 2004)It doesn't matter if people keep stealing MS products. They probably wanted you to steal their products, for an opportunity like now.

They will, or have, figured out a way to keep illegal copies from being used, and the only option most will have is to pay for it, or lose it.

The funniest part is, most of you will pay.Why? Because most people are locked into MS, and even though Linux is free, and OSX is cheaper, the majority will stick with what they know.

Truth is, even if you paid for a copy of XP, you don't own it, but you are paying to use it.

Personally, I made a decision not to deal with it, and I'm pretty happy I did.(I checked out the Windows download which is something I never have to do. Pretty ugly!)– by Willy

ha (12:13pm EST Mon Sep 20 2004)Microsoft opens OfficeMicrosoft has chosen to release details of the decision to share its source code from the company's European headquarters in Paris, France. European governments had been suspicious that the inner code of the U.S. company's products could offer the U.S. government back-door access to their systems.

Duh arnt we all..

complete story at – by FreeKE

…(12:39pm EST Mon Sep 20 2004)“Erm I only paid £120 two years back for XP Pro even then it was only about $200 so where is the 300-400 coming from?”

In the US, For example, at Best Buy, Office and even XP (home OR pro) Ranges High $200's, mid $300's USD – by Gir

OS Paradox(12:41pm EST Mon Sep 20 2004)most of the people running pirated copies will shift to linux…and MS is already fighting linux on all fronts…why add one more reason to switch?anyway if that happens, maybe people would prefer running old systems (98/2000) and old MS office which does not do above validations…. – by map

Cheaper(12:52pm EST Mon Sep 20 2004)Anyone who thinks that piracy is making Windoze expensive has the cart before the horse. It's pirated because it's expensive.

Microsoft has been proven, in court, to be an abusive monopoly. Monopolies don't adjust their prices based on sales. They don't have to since they are monopolies. They set the price however they want.

It's gotten worse with Linux because now the only two products that MS products – Windows and Office – have a market value of $0. Linux and Open Office can do everything that Windows can (and more) for less.

How can someone in a developing nation justify spending even $20 on a Microsoft product when the alternatives are free.

Personally, I hope MS does as much as they can to enforce legal software. It just makes Linux that much more attractive. – by Dr. What.

Pirates will always be ahead(12:53pm EST Mon Sep 20 2004)Pirates who deactivates or modifies copies of software for FREE distribution will never cease to exist. No matter how much software pirate prevention tactics are implemented, someone will always be able to crack it sooner or later. There is no way to stop piracy, no way other than if the population chooses to purchase the products with their own money. – by fsfds

Opensource= Freedom(1:16pm EST Mon Sep 20 2004)Opensource is great but it shouldn't be completely free forever. This is not a good business model and cannot last. I am perfectly happy paying 29.95 for Suse Personal 9.1. I am very glad that I can try any flavor of Linux out before I buy it. Can you say the same about MS? All of MS software is overpriced. Why don't we all vote with our pocketbooks and actually purchase our copies of Linux? But, there are just too many who want evrything for free. –sadly :( – by MrReLoAd

Gir(1:18pm EST Mon Sep 20 2004)XP home is $99 and pro is $199 at the best buy down the street. Office is somewhere around $300.

– by Etcetera

re: Etcetera(1:28pm EST Mon Sep 20 2004)hehehe Not here :P

I have to drive 2 freaking hours to get to best buy…And I checked a few months ago when i went there, the prices were still unbelievableProbably because I live in a low populated area.. – by Gir

$20 on gas, another $310 (remember tax!) Might as well sell myself on the street to get Office. :|NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO – by Gir

Office(1:31pm EST Mon Sep 20 2004) Sign on street:

“will give h*** for M$ office” – by Gir

Morons(2:01pm EST Mon Sep 20 2004)you guys are complaining bout the price. if u dont like it do not buy it period. if u cannot afford an expensive home, then buy a less expensive home. idiots. – by KIT

I've said it before and I'll say it again(2:19pm EST Mon Sep 20 2004)W2K was the end of the line. Wintel astrourfers can cry all they want, but that's the fact.Microsoft decreased their OEM price for XP to $20 last week. Does ANYONE (DOJ, FTC…) see a problem with this?Personally, I like W2K3 Server, but how could I possibly justify it over Suse 9? I personally make no money from the OS when selling and setting up a server. Unless, MS is willing to give me W2K3 Server for less than $20, I'm better off using Suse. Suse 8 Enterprise and Novell Nterprise Services 250,000 user licence is FREE. Open source projects like Mozilla, have given us lower cost, higher quality alternatives. Because their are less educated linux admin, I can make more money on related services. – by tech

Those dongle(3:26pm EST Mon Sep 20 2004)thingies, M$oft should use em. Work great, HAHA!– by Truth4U

Longhorn(3:28pm EST Mon Sep 20 2004)activation

Why code name “long-horn”? Is there any probing involved in this activation scheme? Because if there is, they better keep their product in San Francisco. Damn heathens! – by Truth4U

piracy(4:16pm EST Mon Sep 20 2004)high costs of an os or any product developed by any limited organization are initially released at high prices in order to recoup research and development expenses. m$, unlike other companies, does not lower their prices until they are just about ready to ship new product, and when they do lower, it isn't by much.

my piracy loophole:microsoft has a program at most colleges where they sell discounted software to students .originally this program gave software to students at no cost whatsoever, before the proliferation of cd-burners. you would just go to the library and sign out an unlimited enterprise license version of windows or office or whatever, install it, take it back. i saved a cd image of this, and bc i am a former student of this college i can put as many copies as i like on any of my computers. never have to enter a serial.

question: if someone buys an oem piece of software, say xp, that has no hardcopy eula, and they then edit the eula on the disk, does that void the original eula?– by atrijata

re: gir(4:38pm EST Mon Sep 20 2004)for the record, I don't have money coming out my ass, I'm looking for a job myself, and I do have a pirated copy of Word. I'm a mile from righteous. But I'm not blaming microsoft for the price being high so I had to steal it!!! If I made you a loan what would you do with it. You'ld complain I charged you interest!! Read post by “Just a Bill” – by jtm from IL.

Here's the REAL Bulls**t(5:25pm EST Mon Sep 20 2004)Most of us own more than one computer, right? Well, if I am an honest guy and pay the outrageous sum of money for a legal copy of Windows and install it on all of my machines, technicaly I'm a priate. That to me is pure crap. That's like buying a CD or DVD and only being able to play them on one player. Remember a couple of years ago MS said they were going to make all of thier applications online utilities that you would have to pay a fee based on the time you used it? I haven't heard anything about that since, but I just don't know what else to say other than MS sucks. – by MacMurphy

everyone(5:32pm EST Mon Sep 20 2004)who uses winxp pro and home and has issues but does not wish to switch to linux for whatever reason should downgrade to wn2kpro sp4. i've had no issues with any program or hardware compatability, and most xp drivers work with 2ksp4 – by aristephaeus

Small Business ( 20 employees) will switch to Linux(7:15pm EST Mon Sep 20 2004)Because the high price of Microsoft products and awkwardness of Microsoft products to prevent piracy of their products a lot of Linux will be deployed.

Desktop Linux thinks small

Linux is expected to make steady gains over the next few years on the desktop PCs of small businesses, according to a new report.

“Pay attention to the less-than-20-employees market segment,” the report advises technology companies, “because that is where the early Linux-versus-Windows desktop wars will play out. The very-small-business segment shows the greatest interest in Linux desktop adoption in the next 12 or more months…Historically, the low end of the (small business) market is most cost conscious, and many will opt for a lower-cost alternative after weighing the price-to-value risk.”

– by Today in news.com

Who wants to buy Windows XP? It can play DVDs(7:19pm EST Mon Sep 20 2004)Windows XP can't play DVDs without third party software products. If you want to watch DVDs on Windows Media Player you have to shell out $15.00 for DVDs plug in. Mac OS X and Linux can play DVDs without paying extra. – by WMP can't play DVDs

No activation(8:33pm EST Mon Sep 20 2004)I bought Windows from resellers so I have legit licences but I still use copies downloaded from internet because it is a pain in the ass having to activate and re-activate everytime you reinstall/upgrade your machines. I will buy Longhorn when it comes out but I'll still want a copy that requires no activation hassles. – by Legit Windows User

What?(8:59pm EST Mon Sep 20 2004)> Linux is free, and OSX is cheaper

OS X can only be used on specific, much more expensive hardware. Its price is practically immaterial, therefore, as it is not a viable replacement option for a windows OS. Even so, nearly every year, there is a ~$100 update, which soon surpasses the cost of windows. You don't have to upgrade, of course, but often newer programs require the most recent version.

If OS x only cost $1, however, it would not make it a better deal than Windows (any version), because there is already a ~$500 premium just to get Mac hardware to run it on. Your comparison makes no sense.

Linux is free, however, and I use it for some things. It (if you can call all the various distros, “it”) also is a poor replacement for windows, because there are fewer stable and feature-rich programs that people need to use available. I'm sure this is not news to you.

In any case, it's not ignorance or lack of skill that makes people keep using windows. It simply doesn't make sense for the average use to run Linux on his/her home machine, and OS X requires a bigger investment.– by the way

you losers….(10:20pm EST Mon Sep 20 2004)…who aren't paying for Windows now aren't going to pay for it no matter how much they drop the price. Who do you think you're kidding? They could offer Windows for $20 and the same people who say they steal because the 'price is to high' will continue to steal it. You're a bunch of bottom feeding scumbags who contribute nothing to society except flaglant disregard for other peoples' work.

These are the same people who said they downloaded music off p2p sites because music was too expensive and you had to buy an entire album of mostly 'filler ' tracks. Now there are services such as iTunes and others which offer single tracks at $1 or less. Still though P2P sites are still attracting people who steal.

The point is that the scumbags who steal make it neccessary for MS and others to come up with new ways to protect their copyright. This is effort that could better be used to make the OS more secure (but that's a discussion for another thread).

Now I'm gonna go steal a Porsche because I want one but can't afford one. – by rbmusician

XP Pro(10:57pm EST Mon Sep 20 2004)If u own the corp version of xp pro, then ur software is already licensed……..its a volume product key…….meant for large corps – by WTF

Re: the way(11:44pm EST Mon Sep 20 2004)Linux is much more stable than Windows. There are some version of Linux and embedded Linux that are telecom carrier grade. There are NO version of Windows that are telecom carrier grade.

Kids are using Linux in schools more and more such as in Portland Oregon and now in Honolulu Hawai'i

With help from the nonprofit Hawai'i Open Source Education Foundation, a dozen schools and organizations have opened PC labs using recycled computers loaded with free software for about $3,000, much less than what a lab using off-the-shelf computers and commercially-available software could cost — up to $30,000.

Using free software and recycled computers is “very cost-effective,” said Pua'ala McElhaney, principal at Enchanted Lake Elementary School, where HOSEF recently installed a lab paid for by the school's PTA.

then install a free linux distro – lets say fedora fc2. a stable release… with all the options…

just to check…i can run a webserver, do mysql databases, go everything ms office can with open office or star office. variety of games. a lot of things that xp doesnt come with.

which is more capable? which out of the BOX has more software? with is more stable? I will tell you my fc2 machine has been up and running a long time and my xp machine hasnt. I am (for the record) running a legit copy of xp pro. with all the updates, no sp2 yet though. I will not upgrade for a while untill they work all the crap out.

your argument is only half right on osx.go download open darwin and there you have osx without the pretty gui. its free. and is available for a variety of platforms. – by ChuckyCheese

re: you losers etc(2:59am EST Tue Sep 21 2004)I think that the price does make a difference. As far as the music and p2p argument goes – who wants to spend money on DRM managed music downloads that are lower quality than the music you buy on CD? Despite it's flaws windows is a good but expensive product – I don't just use it for email, web and Office – i also use it for entertainment – I would never buy a MAC for gaming and the same goes for Linux as it stands at the moment. M$ virtually gives Windows (and Word etc) away when you buy a new PC and then makes vast revenues selling Windows retail … what reason do they have to change that marketing model? It sucks but thats the way it is … – by voice of reason

re linux more stable(3:03am EST Tue Sep 21 2004)thats not exactly true – there are just as many vulnerabilities in linux as there are in windows and OSX – the difference is that the windows 'monopoly' simply makes it a bigger (and therefore 'better') target … – by voice of reason

hmmm(4:16am EST Tue Sep 21 2004)ive been using xp since it first came out and like hell if im gonna buy it. I've tried linux(slackware-crashed on startup,fedora-slow) and i prefer windows xp, 2000 was crap for gaming xp has never crashed on me except for the time ati was having troubles with they're drivers and thats it. My xp box has been running for 5 months and theres nothing wrong with it so w/e you linux bias think your wrong :D – by gimped

I have a genuine copy of Windows XP(6:34am EST Tue Sep 21 2004)I have a genuine copy of Windows XP. It passes the serial number test, but fails the “genuine CD” test. It is a business partner disk, and has no security features on it whatsoever. Great. Microsoft is going to consider a lot of piracy that isn't there, just because of their oversight. – by I bought it from MS!

Hey you! –> Dont_Code_For_Free(6:50am EST Tue Sep 21 2004)“They will do that when they can control the piracy. Once that is done, costs should begin to drop, making Windows even more afforable.”

WHAT?! I don't think so. If Microsoft knew that every copy of windows that was being used was being PAID for, they'd have an even greater “illegal monopoly” (Linux.org quote) – they'd just make things more expensive, because that would make Bill richer. – Don't you watch the Simpsons? – “I didn't get rich by writing a bunch of cheques” (that's 'checks' for my American amigos to the south – again, to my American friends, “to the south” implies that I'm from Canada, another problem in the U.S. – look at a map once in a while!) – by James D

Survival of the fittest(7:23am EST Tue Sep 21 2004)Stealing is a survival skill. In the animal kingdom, stealing conserves energy used in hunting (which could easy result in a failed hunt) and allows you to have more energy reserves just in case you need them in the future. Apply that to money. Pirating allows you to gain a program without having to buy it and so conserves money used to buy the product (which may not work, and in M$'s case, will probably not work) and allows you to have some savings for future purchases.

Hyenas never die of starvation.Hunters do.

– by Truth V0.1

wtf(8:57am EST Tue Sep 21 2004)Concerning deleted posts and censorshipI have noted that several posts have been deleted. One of them was mine it was nether offensive or off topic yet it was deleted. If you want opinions don’t delete them. The use of the fuck word is a non-offensive word.. even small schoolchildren use it on a daily if not hourly basis. Go by a schoolyard some time.The fuck word is part of the natural evolution of our language It resides in the dictionary. In my deleted post it was used once. It was not a case of the word fuck being used multiple times. I find censorship to be the most offensive word of all.

– by FreeKE

Piracy Stoped(9:34am EST Tue Sep 21 2004)If Microsoft stoped piracy they would get more sales. But the free competion would get alot more users as well. And the compition would get more and more popular as support increased. Do microsoft want to stop deliberate piracy? No, because they want a monopoly. MS want to stop unaware piracy where the person thought they bought a ligtimate copy but didn't. – by Mofobodo

Yoohoo, by the way(10:30am EST Tue Sep 21 2004)The Windows dudes have repeatedly said that XP Pro is $200.00.OSX costs $179.00.Linux can be had for free.

I never mentioned hardware, so what's the problem.Do you have a comprehension problem.

And “by the way”, If you are able to read without bias, this article explains why a Mac is cheaper.

You may be able to buy/build a computer for $300.00, but when you start lining up the comparable store bought boxes against a Mac, add the software, put all the little extra's in, feature for feature, you usually wind up with a computer that is more expensive than a Mac.I realized this years ago.

If anything, the Mac is not too expensive, it just has more features, than most users require.

You can whine all you want, I don't care.As long as I'm happy, it doesn't matter to me if you are.– by Willy

MS is making money(10:47am EST Tue Sep 21 2004)They are making money hand-over-fist, why would they change their pricing. They have a proven monopoly, so they do not have to be guided by the invisible hand of supply/demand. They can price at whatever can keep them just under the radar as a price-gouger.

Screw 'em! I still use Windows, but I'd love a real alternative. When does their patent on the Win32 api expire? – by DT

Sad Sad Story(10:52am EST Tue Sep 21 2004)Thou shall not steal. With that said, quit complaining and run linux if you want to. The reason your complaining is because you would rather run windows. If you think linux is better cheaper and does everything windows does, Why are you even posting here? You should be kicking back playing tux racer instead of a disgruntal theif playing a hacked copy of Doom 3 on your stolen os that you wouldnt pay the 20 dollars for if the price were such. Not to mention probably playing on their neighbors wirless internet connection. Once again if you dont like the way it is do something about it instead of complaining. Wow some peoples kids! – by Just a Bill

Roach_D(11:18am EST Tue Sep 21 2004)“HEY Microsoft how do you justify that markup for product that cost you $5 – $10 to produce?”

$5-$10??? What do you think it costs to research, develop, test, market, replicate, box and ship a copy of Windows? Let alone have money left over to start the cycle all over again to develop the next version. I'm not saying that MS is losing money, but it costs a lot more than just stamping a disc and placing it in a box. – by Grrrrrrrrr!

Software still cheap at U(12:04pm EST Tue Sep 21 2004)For 2 years I stopped using MS products. I used Suse, Nterprise, OO, Mozilla … and other open source projects and still do. I added a W2K, Office XP PC when it was required by a VC app for my return to school this fall.The W2K, Office XP I purchased as a bundle 2 years ago from the U bookstore for $50. I've migrated individual users from MS to linux. It is not always an easy move. There is definately a dependancy built up for certain MS apps, but users get used to using OO and Mozilla apps in a few weeks. None have switched back, but many had a lingering bad taste in their mouth from ME. I swtiched some to XP first, but they were still shell shocked from ME and were quick to find fault with XP.It will be interesting if the small business user breaks ranks this year. This is usually the territory of the regional Mom & Pop IT shops. They are also the most likely not to be paying MS tax. It will be interesting to compare free (unlicenced) software to free (open source) software in day to day business. – by tech

Um…(1:18pm EST Fri Sep 24 2004)Where's the advantage? – by bad name

Pirated MS products(5:06am EST Sun Nov 28 2004)I see both sides of the argument here. I agree taking something you do not pay for is wrong. However, Bill STOLE, that's right STOLE what later became Windows from his best friend. Can he EVER be unconcerned about piracy when he is a pirate himself?

As for the pricing. Linux distros are better and cheaper. The Bush admin as much as I love W, let Bill literally off the hook. Bill should have been NAILED by the justice dept. Bill HAS made the single largest contribution to personal computing, but alas we will NEVER know how it “could have been” because Windows comandeered our computers in 95 and have had them kidnapped ever since.

Windows is TOO BUGGY, too much trouble to patch and scan and run AV and have firewalls and on and on and on. Bill should give every Windows user in the world a rebate to make up for the COST of leasing (read the ridiculous EULA-you DO NOT OWN IT)Windows XP! How many 100's of Millions are spent every year on IT services to keep Windows XP and other version machines from being exploited or fixing them when they are?

As for the price-what does Dell pay for a copy of XP Home? What does Gateway pay? I'll betcha it is not $200, or $100 but MUCH less.

This argument will never be settled as long as Gates and Baumer run MS. Gate's ability to leverage other people's ideas and make them his own makes him the master pirate.

He has the world by the throat. Why should he let go now?

Hey guys..when he gets Longhorn and Palladium on the scene he will have us by elsewhere as well. I think you are smart enough to figure out the location of “elsewhere” is! – by Tired of complaining

Windows, Linux, Windows.(12:25pm EST Sat Jul 09 2005)I had Windows 9X/…/XP, tried Linux and then back to Windows. I liked linux but the problem is that it didn't have device driver for my Sound Card and I couldn't connect to the internet. I wish I knew how to install all the drivers… my next move would have ben to to kick windows out of my face. Windows – price = a_good_idea to prevent piracy… The current price = highway robbery. – by Earth – Windows